New South Wales Consolidated Regulations New South Wales Consolidated RegulationsLevels of assessed contribution:
FULL-contributes to target in full
HIGH-while not fully contributing to target, there is a good level of contribution
PARTIAL-goes some way to meeting the target
LOW-only small degree of contribution to the target
| Relevant target | Level of contribution | Comments |
| Target 1a Extractions in Murray-Darling Basin’s regulated rivers limited to the level of the long term average annual extraction below the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council (MDBMC) Cap which results from the long term impact of the environmental water rules | FULL | This Plan clearly sets out the basis for the long-term extraction limit in Part 8. |
| Target 1f Rules for adjustments to future available water determinations in the event that the extraction limits are exceeded, clearly prescribed in consultation with the relevant management committee, and acted upon. | HIGH | Rules set out in Part 8. |
| Target 2 All management plans incorporating mechanisms to protect and restore aquatic habitats, and the diversity and abundance of native animals and plants, with particular reference to threatened species, populations and communities and key threatening processes. | HIGH | The environmental flow regimes
significantly improve inflows into the Marshes compared to Cap. 4 fish species (Trout cod, Silver perch, Purple spotted gudgeon, Olive perchlet) occur in the Macquarie River system have been listed as threatened. This Plan should assist in the protection/recovery of these species. 16 wetland and riparian dependent birds listed as threatened occur in the Macquarie system. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has assessed the impact of this Plan and concluded that this Plan should improve the quality of most of their habitats. Little is known about the ecology of the effluent creeks but this Plan has marginally improved medium to high flows into these creeks. This Plan makes environmental provisions for the Cudgegong River. |
| Target 4a Wherever the frequency of “end of system” daily flows would be less than 60 percent of the predevelopment level without environmental water rules or extraction limits, the flows increased to 60 percent of predevelopment levels or increased by at least 10 percent of the predevelopment frequency. | FULL | This Plan meets the target as follows:• 50 th percentile flows are improved by more than 10% (ie increased from 36% of predevelopment under CAP to 47% under this Plan).• 30 th percentile flows are improved by more than 10% (ie from 34% of predevelopment under CAP to 55% under this Plan).• 10 th percentile flows are 87% of predevelopment under this Plan. |
| Target 4b Frequency of “end of system” daily very low flows (as defined by local field investigation) protected or restored to predevelopment levels to maintain or restore their critical ecological functions, drought refuges and habitat connectivity. In the absence of such local assessments, protection extended up to at least the predevelopment 95th percentile. | FULL | This Plan maintains the predevelopment 95 th percentile flow frequency for the Macquarie Marshes inflows. |
| Target 4c The channel capacity of all lower river and effluent creek systems used for the delivery of regulated water determined. Subject to reasonable socio-economic impacts, limits on daily supply volumes established for effluent systems such that they do not exceed 80 percent of the channel capacity for more than 10 percent of days in each month of each year. Where daily supply volumes are currently substantially less than channel capacity, alternative limits established to reduce the impact of unseasonal flows arising from future access licence dealings. | PARTIAL | This Plan provides for
the determination of maximum operating channel capacities in accordance with
this SWMOP target. This Plan also provides for the distribution of numerical extraction rights that could be used to facilitate management to desired capacity targets. |
| Target 5 Access rights for water access licensees clearly and legally specified in terms of share and extraction components. | FULL | Access for existing regulated supply licences and supplementary water access licences is clearly specified and tradeable. |
| Target 6 For surface water sources, a pathway for reducing the share components to 200 percent of the long term average annual extraction limit to be established not later than the end of the term of the SWMOP | FULL | Total entitlements do not exceed 200% of the long-term extraction limit. |
| Target 9a Flow thresholds for declaration of supplementary water access, which take into account environmental needs, clearly specified. | PARTIAL | This Plan specifies thresholds for access in the Macquarie River but allows small volumes of supplementary access in the Cudgegong based only on the status of Burrendong Dam and the Macquarie River. |
| Target 9b Annual limits on supplementary water extractions, consistent with the long term average annual extraction limits, established in all regulated river water sources. | FULL | This Plan sets the maximum annual extraction for supplementary water access licences at the full entitlement of 50,000 megalitres. |
| Target 9c Rules for sharing between supplementary water access licence holders made explicit. | PARTIAL | This Plan does not clearly specify any sharing rules, however it does provide for “even sharing” of access between supplementary water access licences. |
| Target 9d Supplementary access licence dealings made possible in regulated river water sources, subject to extraction limits and environmental assessment and Aboriginal spiritual and cultural constraints. | FULL | Trading of supplementary water access licences is permitted. |
| Target 12 Measures in place in all water sources subject to a gazetted water sharing plan to protect domestic and stock rights from the impact of other water access and use. | FULL | Obligations are set out in Part 5 of this Plan. |
| Target 14 Water sources, ecosystems and sites of cultural or traditional importance to Aboriginal people identified, plans of management prepared, and measures put in place to protect and improve them | PARTIAL | This Plan does not
address Aboriginal cultural or traditional requirements and has not identified
any sites of particular importance. The significant improvement in environmental flows achieved under this Plan should contribute to protecting or improving Aboriginal values. |
| Target 16a All share components of access licences tradeable | FULL | All entitlements (including supplementary water access licences) will be tradeable under this Plan. |
| Target 16c Conversion factors and protocols established to facilitate trading and dealings between water sources, whilst also protecting existing access and environmental water. | FULL | Access licence dealings between water sources are in line with Government policy. |
| Target 16d Reduced conversion factors only applied when necessary to offset increased losses associated with water supply delivery. | FULL | This Plan does not impose reduction factors. |
| Target 16f Zones established where necessary for environmental protection and limits/constraints on water dealings in them made explicit | FULL | This Plan establishes a number of zones and sets out access licence dealing restrictions based on either ecological factors or to protect the security of supply to existing users. |
| Target 35 All management plans incorporating water quality objectives that have considered Government approved Interim Environmental Objectives, the current Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council Guidelines and the recommendations of relevant Healthy Rivers Commission Inquiries | PARTIAL | This Plan includes a general set of water quality
objectives. It is not explicit about the water quality priorities and possible targets, (relevant environmental values, water quality parameters etc) and does not indicate whether improvement or maintenance of existing water quality is the expected from water sharing rules. |